I've borrowed this book from my local library, in french. To the people who understand French, many Japanese sewing and knitting books have a French version.
I love Japanese sewing books too and i laughed when you said the pattern pages are the worst you have ever seen. It’s so true, it’s like looking a road map. It takes me an hour or so to find and trace out my pattern depending on how many pieces I need. But it is doable without knowing any japanese and so worth it。 So jealous of how much natural light you get in that room!! Love it!!
I am Japanese and a huge fan of your sewing vedeos❤ The skirt is beautiful, and I decided to buy the same book you referred and sew the same piece! The book was no longer available in new condition but I managed to find a copy in secondhand online market in Japan! thank you for inspiration❤
As a Japanese cosplayer, I always use Japanese sewing pattern books. Very visual and easy to understand. But for sure, the tracing pattern is a bit messy. So I always use a highlighter pen to make sure which line I will go with. I'm glad you like the Japanese pattern book and I hope the publisher makes more translated versions!
The skirt is amazing. Looks great on you. As I watched I was sure you'd got the back and front mixed up but, no, you were right and it's a very clever and pleasing pattern. Great find!
Fantastic job! I've never seen a pattern like that and almost spilled my coffee when you showed all the intersecting lines. The pleat design is just delightful, and is so much more sophisticated than one long tunnel at the waist with elastic. Linen is also a fabric of my dreams. One reason it pleats so well is the nature of the fiber itself. Linen does well in pleats for the same reason it wrinkles so much: once the fiber is bent, it tends to stay bent. Thanks for a lovely tour through a Japanese pattern. Cheers from Oklahoma, USA!!!
I think that all of your garments look so professional. This skirt is no exception. I love your new skirt , the details are a bit different to the ordinary. It was fun to go through the makings of the pattern. ❤
Great job, Janelle! It was relaxing to watch you make this skirt - you made it look easy. I liked how you included us in your thinking process. It really looks fabulous on you. It's a really classic piece. I've had that same book for so long, and never actually used it, for me there would be the added steps of then sizing it up considerably. There are so many great designs in there - thanks to you I want to go through the book again and hopefully make something for myself.
I love watching your Japanese pattern sews! This one looked hectic. I think the pleating in the front waistband is awesome. It accentuates the pleating line and looks great!
I'm so lucky I got to watch you make this skirt. I have this book and I've had my eye on that pattern. I made the kimono sleeve blouse from this book in a crisp cream cotton. It is beautiful, flattering and unusual in shape but very easy to wear. Highly recommend
Love love love this! Love your videos! Love this skirt! Love the Japanese pattern series! Love how beautiful the skirt looks on you! Love it, Janelle!! Thanks for sharing❤❤❤
OMG! It's adorable! I really admire your patience! I lost my temper just watching you trying to figure out the steps 😅 Bravo! I LOVE how it turned out.
What a gorgeous skirt. The pattern is really clever, you are right. Your comment about sewing over pins amused me - I've been doing it like that all my sewing life. I learned from my Mom, who was taught by a professional seamstress.
Back in the day, when presser feet were fixed, you could not sew over pins. Then sometime in the early ‘60’s, presser feet were designed to tilt up and down. Everyone was so excited because the manufacturers told us, these feet would ride right over pins. And they did. So that’s what we did for years. I don’t know exactly when or why they changed their minds about this.🤔
I’ve only just recently found you, and I’m in love with all of your videos!! I also love that you are Australian, I am also Australian! You have inspired me to make dresses for myself, and I can’t thank you enough!
I love these videos! Based on your last Japanese Book pattern video, I got myself a whole stack of these when I went to Japan and incidentally, this is one of them! Can’t wait to follow this sew along to make my own gathered/tucked front skirt. Please make more of these videos! Following the Japanese book patterns is quite difficult without guidance 😅 I’ve already had to learn from my mistakes twice 🫣
Beautiful! It's pretty impressive that you are able to follow a pattern in a language you don't speak - which I'm sure is partly because the pattern has such detailed and well-planned illustrations :) A little bit of feedback for if you make this one again: For the front pleating, the waistband doesn't need to be sewn down before the pleating! That's because when you sew in the waist tape it will sew it down then, and until then it will be held down by the stay-stitching. This is why your two lines of stitching overlap a little. But it doesn't retract from the outcome of the product and it's still a lovely result! ☺
Really cute design, I can’t wear gathering at the front so the pleats to the side of the front are more flattering. And I love the gathering at the back. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to concentrate a fair bit with those Japanese sewing pattern books. It always makes sense at the end though! Cheers Allison
Hi Janelle. I have one of these Japanese sewing books. One day I’ll have a go at making one. 😅 They do seem a little intimidating, but the finished products are so lovely. The skirt you have made is just gorgeous. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🌸
They are very intimidating at first, but one you jump in it’s a fun challenge I promise! Also, the patterns look super complicated but are actually really quite simple makes 😊
Impressive! I'm Japanese but I know those patterns and instructions can be so hard to follow! I usually pick the easiest one either sewing, knitting or cooking from the book! you motivated me to challenge some complicated projects...will see...Love your channel❤
The skirt looks great on you😊 I’m Japanese and totally agree the messy pattern is a headache😅I almost always mess up while copying even though I can read😂😂😂 I own several books and can tell some have more detailed explanations while others don’t, assuming its readers to be somewhat advanced. Among the latter group, “大人もときめく愛され服” (Otona mo tokimeku aisare fuku) by Tomomi Yamaguchi, is one of my favorite patterns books in recent years. Take a look😉❤
Pleated skirts are lovely. I have made several. I also love doing pin tucks and stuff as details on dresses. That skirt turned out lovely in that fabric. You should find a silk-linen blend and do another one maybe in a subtle print. 🥰❤👍
Immediately subscribed. Love your videos! So many other videos were just loaded not to help others understand , I wasted so much time watching them😅. Yours are of great quality 👍🏻
My mother made our school uniforms and many of our clothes. She sewed over pins every time and never had a problem. She only broke needles sewing my dad’s denim work clothes when she forgot to switch to the heavy duty ones.
Great work and great video! I have a couple of Japanese sewing books for children's clothes that are soo cute but I have been way too overwhelmed to try yet because of how the patterns overlap. I'm gonna definitely have a go at it now though. You have also explained some things that I would not have figured out on my own, like referring to previous pages for missing steps.
I love seeing these Japanese patterns get made up! I have some old Japanese lolita magazines that have some patterns in them, but did have much luck with them back when I was just starting sewing (I think I would still struggle a bit with those pieces lol) I tried looking for some more modern pattern books when I was in Japan last but didn't see any that I really liked... can't wait to see what else you make!
I always wondered what that woven tape could be used for. I inherited a lot of my grandmother's sewing notions and I've never quite knew what to do with that woven tape. The skirt is beautiful and you're braver than I!
Your skirt is beautifully sewn. I found it will be lumpy on the waistband if i gather both front and back side of skirt by creating casing and using elastic. So i like much about the idea of gathering only part or backside of skirt with elastic, leaving the front side flat with only stitched on gathering🎉🎉
Hi love watching your channel - you are so calm and clever! Would you ever create this pattern in English - sort of simplify it for us? That would be amazing and we could purchase from you? Thanks
I have many of these books as they have the most beautiful yet deceivingly simple designs. I do have a love hate relationship, though. Tracing is hell and I'm way beyond the standard Japanese sizing (warning to any who is size UK 16 or above, its mandatory to have the ability to grade patterns if you don't want every project to end in tears), so I need to grade up certain garments significantly to have the same "ease" intended by the original designs. I'm not a "if I can shove myself into it, it can be worn" person, it needs to fit as intended 😂
What a beautiful skirt. I am in love with all the details, fantastic the gathering on the back! You make it look so easy to sew this project. Thank you for sharing. Is it easy to choose your size?❤🥰
New here. You had me at Japanese patterns. I looked at your website and was wondering if you are planning on doing your printed patterns again. I noticed they are all out of stock. Thank you and carry on.🎉
Beautiful skirt. It's really full. It looks like it might have an option for elastic just in the back or all the way around. That might mess up the placement of the pockets though.
Hi Janelle! Have you tried tracing on medical paper? Like the one that lines the bed/table in a doctor’s office. Wondering what your thoughts are on using that vs your current baking paper.
I've hit a pin with my machine needle before (yes they were pinned exactly like yours) and the tip of the needle flew into my face, so lucky you that nothing happened yet!
The same has happened to me - thankfully it didn't fly into my face, but my needle breaking gave me a fright - so I never intentionally sew over pins. It's Russian Roulette and I'm not a gambler...
I wonder if you would like any of the patterns in the gosurori japanese sewing magazines, i could see you pattern hacking and just using some of them^^
The way those patterns are set out looks exactly like how the old European ladies magazines did them. Like Vogue and the Delineator. Not those are much more chaotic and only in black
Hi Janelle, I know that you're away in Europe at the moment but for when you get back - I wondered if you have tried any Sewing Therapy patterns? Sara's patterns are just gorgeous and I think you might like the Ele skirt x
Janelle, you are really looking so professional these days. You have always been so good at showing what you are doing but I think you have gone up another notch!. I love these Japanese patterns you have done.. I loved the sailor dress and this skirt is exquisite. Thankyou for making my Sunday morning coffee time so enjoyable!
I really love this skirt (& I normally don’t wear skirts). I wonder if you’d consider making a similar pattern available with those same pleats in the front and elastic in the back with gathers (I agree the back pleats are a bit redundant)? But in English & with different sizes? If that’s possible!
Fabulous 🎉. How much fabric did you use? Japanese books often rely on 1.1 wide, but Spotligh offers usually 1.35…. If I wouldn’t have to go to work, I would start sewing right now 😆 Your video is very inspiring ❤
前 (mae, not 'may', more like mah-eh) means front and 後ろ (ushiro, u-shi-raw in a Gordon Ramsay kind of pronunciation lol) means back. ^^ I'm terrible at kanji, but those 2 are good to know when sewing from Japanese patterns. :D
You are intrepid! Looking at those pattern layouts freaks me out! I love that you think that’s part of the fun! But I have a question: when you lay out your fabric on your table, some of it is hanging off the edge. Why doesn’t the overhang drag the rest of it to the floor? Do you have a special surface that isn’t slippery? Because I literally can’t do that on my table! I usually work on the floor for larger projects.
I've borrowed this book from my local library, in french. To the people who understand French, many Japanese sewing and knitting books have a French version.
That’s so cool! Are the books called the same in France (I.e. Heart Warming Life Series)?
Yeah, Japanese sewing books are very popular here. Even in small fabric shops you will mostly find japanese books.
I love Japanese sewing books too and i laughed when you said the pattern pages are the worst you have ever seen. It’s so true, it’s like looking a road map. It takes me an hour or so to find and trace out my pattern depending on how many pieces I need. But it is doable without knowing any japanese and so worth it。 So jealous of how much natural light you get in that room!! Love it!!
I am Japanese and a huge fan of your sewing vedeos❤ The skirt is beautiful, and I decided to buy the same book you referred and sew the same piece! The book was no longer available in new condition but I managed to find a copy in secondhand online market in Japan! thank you for inspiration❤
As a Japanese cosplayer, I always use Japanese sewing pattern books. Very visual and easy to understand. But for sure, the tracing pattern is a bit messy. So I always use a highlighter pen to make sure which line I will go with. I'm glad you like the Japanese pattern book and I hope the publisher makes more translated versions!
You really live on the edge Janelle - no toile and no google translate!! Amazing.
Such a lovely linen fabric! 前 is the front - 後 is the back 表 is the top of the fabric and 裏 is the back of the fabric
I hope she sees this comment 🙂
The skirt is amazing. Looks great on you. As I watched I was sure you'd got the back and front mixed up but, no, you were right and it's a very clever and pleasing pattern. Great find!
Fantastic job! I've never seen a pattern like that and almost spilled my coffee when you showed all the intersecting lines. The pleat design is just delightful, and is so much more sophisticated than one long tunnel at the waist with elastic. Linen is also a fabric of my dreams. One reason it pleats so well is the nature of the fiber itself. Linen does well in pleats for the same reason it wrinkles so much: once the fiber is bent, it tends to stay bent. Thanks for a lovely tour through a Japanese pattern. Cheers from Oklahoma, USA!!!
Oh, we always used cheapy Coles baking paper for aptterns when I was growing up. Multipurpose paper 👍👍
Japanese sewing books are the best. Ditto for knitting and other crafts. Just beautiful.
I think that all of your garments look so professional. This skirt is no exception. I love your new skirt , the details are a bit different to the ordinary. It was fun to go through the makings of the pattern. ❤
Aw thanks so much 🧡
Great job, Janelle! It was relaxing to watch you make this skirt - you made it look easy. I liked how you included us in your thinking process. It really looks fabulous on you. It's a really classic piece. I've had that same book for so long, and never actually used it, for me there would be the added steps of then sizing it up considerably. There are so many great designs in there - thanks to you I want to go through the book again and hopefully make something for myself.
Thanks so much for watching, I’m glad you enjoyed it! There are so many pieces I want to still make too they are all so beautiful 😍
Love the skirt. The pleats at the back help keep the gathering in place and stop it bunching up. ❤
I’m in LOVE with all the gathering in the back😍 That reminds me my favourite skirts from my childhood😍 Non bulky front is fire😍
I love watching your Japanese pattern sews! This one looked hectic. I think the pleating in the front waistband is awesome. It accentuates the pleating line and looks great!
I'm so lucky I got to watch you make this skirt. I have this book and I've had my eye on that pattern. I made the kimono sleeve blouse from this book in a crisp cream cotton. It is beautiful, flattering and unusual in shape but very easy to wear. Highly recommend
I love the dress your wearing! 💕💕💕
Another lovely Japanese sewing pattern, so good.
Love love love this! Love your videos! Love this skirt! Love the Japanese pattern series! Love how beautiful the skirt looks on you! Love it, Janelle!! Thanks for sharing❤❤❤
Thank you!! I’m so glad you are loving the series! 🧡
I am so jealous of the view from your sewing space!!
Beautiful skirt. I agree that the pleats in the back really do add a great element to the gathering.
OMG! It's adorable! I really admire your patience! I lost my temper just watching you trying to figure out the steps 😅 Bravo! I LOVE how it turned out.
Your ruffle dress compliments your eyes beautifully! ETA: so does the skirt 😃
What a gorgeous skirt. The pattern is really clever, you are right. Your comment about sewing over pins amused me - I've been doing it like that all my sewing life. I learned from my Mom, who was taught by a professional seamstress.
Back in the day, when presser feet were fixed, you could not sew over pins. Then sometime in the early ‘60’s, presser feet were designed to tilt up and down. Everyone was so excited because the manufacturers told us, these feet would ride right over pins. And they did. So that’s what we did for years. I don’t know exactly when or why they changed their minds about this.🤔
I’ve only just recently found you, and I’m in love with all of your videos!! I also love that you are Australian, I am also Australian! You have inspired me to make dresses for myself, and I can’t thank you enough!
That’s awesome! What a beautiful skirt! I really am loving seeing you make all of these Japanese patterns come to life!
That worked out brilliantly! Wow! As you say, so flattering, and with the elasticated back no doubt it's really comfortable too! Perfect! 👌
I love these videos! Based on your last Japanese Book pattern video, I got myself a whole stack of these when I went to Japan and incidentally, this is one of them! Can’t wait to follow this sew along to make my own gathered/tucked front skirt. Please make more of these videos! Following the Japanese book patterns is quite difficult without guidance 😅 I’ve already had to learn from my mistakes twice 🫣
Beautiful! It's pretty impressive that you are able to follow a pattern in a language you don't speak - which I'm sure is partly because the pattern has such detailed and well-planned illustrations :)
A little bit of feedback for if you make this one again: For the front pleating, the waistband doesn't need to be sewn down before the pleating! That's because when you sew in the waist tape it will sew it down then, and until then it will be held down by the stay-stitching. This is why your two lines of stitching overlap a little. But it doesn't retract from the outcome of the product and it's still a lovely result! ☺
Really cute design, I can’t wear gathering at the front so the pleats to the side of the front are more flattering. And I love the gathering at the back. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to concentrate a fair bit with those Japanese sewing pattern books. It always makes sense at the end though! Cheers Allison
This was fun 🤩 you were actually solving a puzzle and making a skirt at the same time . The end result was amazing too I love the fabric
Waww, it turned out perfect!! ❤ You nailed
That was so much fun, and what a gorgeous skirt!!
Hi Janelle. I have one of these Japanese sewing books. One day I’ll have a go at making one. 😅 They do seem a little intimidating, but the finished products are so lovely. The skirt you have made is just gorgeous. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🌸
They are very intimidating at first, but one you jump in it’s a fun challenge I promise! Also, the patterns look super complicated but are actually really quite simple makes 😊
I love longer skirts and that's so lovely.
What a wonderful fit with the gathering in back. Beautiful fabric.
The skirt is very attractive. Kinda fun deciphering the pattern instructions... Which seems par for the course in most patterns. Cheers!
Impressive! I'm Japanese but I know those patterns and instructions can be so hard to follow! I usually pick the easiest one either sewing, knitting or cooking from the book! you motivated me to challenge some complicated projects...will see...Love your channel❤
The skirt really turned out great! I wasn’t sure at first how it would turn out. I love it. Thanks for sharing this video.🪡🧵👗🥰
The skirt looks great on you😊
I’m Japanese and totally agree the messy pattern is a headache😅I almost always mess up while copying even though I can read😂😂😂
I own several books and can tell some have more detailed explanations while others don’t, assuming its readers to be somewhat advanced.
Among the latter group, “大人もときめく愛され服” (Otona mo tokimeku aisare fuku) by Tomomi Yamaguchi, is one of my favorite patterns books in recent years. Take a look😉❤
Pleated skirts are lovely. I have made several. I also love doing pin tucks and stuff as details on dresses. That skirt turned out lovely in that fabric. You should find a silk-linen blend and do another one maybe in a subtle print. 🥰❤👍
A beautiful skirt love the colour of the material
The skirt is amazing!!!!
I ❤ the back of this skirt and the front looks sleek. You made it look soo easy!!!🎉❤
This is a beautiful skirt. I love the details. Thank you for sharing. 😊
The ribbon at the front is actually used to get a flat waistband 😊 the skirt looks amazing! Good job 🎉
You're so talented. Lovely
Immediately subscribed. Love your videos! So many other videos were just loaded not to help others understand , I wasted so much time watching them😅. Yours are of great quality 👍🏻
The pleatings at the back adds less bulk when the waist is gathered and less poof. Gives a cleaner look.
It looks beautiful as always and like all your other pieces. ❤
The pleated and gathered back reminds me of 1890 European and English fadhions. Looked great then too.
That is so beautiful! What a lovely pattern. 💖
Love the video and following your process for sewing this skirt! ❤️🇨🇦
My mother made our school uniforms and many of our clothes. She sewed over pins every time and never had a problem. She only broke needles sewing my dad’s denim work clothes when she forgot to switch to the heavy duty ones.
Great work and great video! I have a couple of Japanese sewing books for children's clothes that are soo cute but I have been way too overwhelmed to try yet because of how the patterns overlap. I'm gonna definitely have a go at it now though. You have also explained some things that I would not have figured out on my own, like referring to previous pages for missing steps.
I love Japanese pattern books!!! 💗💗💗
The skirt is gorgeous on you. 🥰🥰🥰
What's next on your sewing table? 🧵🧵🧵
Your new skirt is amazing. I love the material, pleats and fit. The Japanese pattern books are coming up trumps. Well done
I love seeing these Japanese patterns get made up! I have some old Japanese lolita magazines that have some patterns in them, but did have much luck with them back when I was just starting sewing (I think I would still struggle a bit with those pieces lol) I tried looking for some more modern pattern books when I was in Japan last but didn't see any that I really liked... can't wait to see what else you make!
Looks really good Janelle ❤
Thanks Sharon! 🧡
I always wondered what that woven tape could be used for. I inherited a lot of my grandmother's sewing notions and I've never quite knew what to do with that woven tape. The skirt is beautiful and you're braver than I!
had to subscribe as soon as i heard you werent making a mock up, i feel the exact same way about it
Your skirt is beautifully sewn.
I found it will be lumpy on the waistband if i gather both front and back side of skirt by creating casing and using elastic.
So i like much about the idea of gathering only part or backside of skirt with elastic, leaving the front side flat with only stitched on gathering🎉🎉
Wow what a beautiful skirt!!! Love it!! It’s actually very simple when you film these!!! I really want to make one now! Xx
Love this skirt. ❤
Looks amazing.
It does look really cute on you, especially with sneakers.
love it!
Japanese tutorial is the best. I've make several items and its always turn out the way i imagine it😭
That is a beautiful skirt!
Bakingpaper terrible for baking.😂 Love japanese pattern too. Thank you. ❤
Hi love watching your channel - you are so calm and clever! Would you ever create this pattern in English - sort of simplify it for us? That would be amazing and we could purchase from you? Thanks
I have many of these books as they have the most beautiful yet deceivingly simple designs. I do have a love hate relationship, though. Tracing is hell and I'm way beyond the standard Japanese sizing (warning to any who is size UK 16 or above, its mandatory to have the ability to grade patterns if you don't want every project to end in tears), so I need to grade up certain garments significantly to have the same "ease" intended by the original designs. I'm not a "if I can shove myself into it, it can be worn" person, it needs to fit as intended 😂
Regarding the pins - I've lost time on two machines due to pins. It's not a problem until it's a problem.
1:50 the style really reminds me of the chinese horsefaced skirt. Yours turned out beautifully
Beautiful 😍😍😍
What a beautiful skirt.
I am in love with all the details, fantastic the gathering on the back!
You make it look so easy to sew this project. Thank you for sharing.
Is it easy to choose your size?❤🥰
Thank you! I’m so happy with how it turned out 😍 With these pattern books it’s one size fits all which obviously isn’t great but luckily fit me well
New here. You had me at Japanese patterns. I looked at your website and was wondering if you are planning on doing your printed patterns again. I noticed they are all out of stock. Thank you and carry on.🎉
Beautiful skirt. It's really full. It looks like it might have an option for elastic just in the back or all the way around. That might mess up the placement of the pockets though.
That is a spectacular skirt!
Cracking skirt! ❤
Fabulous 👌 🎉❤
Hi Janelle! Have you tried tracing on medical paper? Like the one that lines the bed/table in a doctor’s office. Wondering what your thoughts are on using that vs your current baking paper.
That skirt ❤❤❤
I've hit a pin with my machine needle before (yes they were pinned exactly like yours) and the tip of the needle flew into my face, so lucky you that nothing happened yet!
The same has happened to me - thankfully it didn't fly into my face, but my needle breaking gave me a fright - so I never intentionally sew over pins. It's Russian Roulette and I'm not a gambler...
I wonder if you would like any of the patterns in the gosurori japanese sewing magazines, i could see you pattern hacking and just using some of them^^
The way those patterns are set out looks exactly like how the old European ladies magazines did them.
Like Vogue and the Delineator. Not those are much more chaotic and only in black
Wow. Elegant and comfortable; how often does that happen? Beautifully done. You make it look easy!
Your skirt is beautiful.
Hi Janelle, I know that you're away in Europe at the moment but for when you get back - I wondered if you have tried any Sewing Therapy patterns? Sara's patterns are just gorgeous and I think you might like the Ele skirt x
What are sewing therapy patterns? Have a link, please?😊
Janelle, you are really looking so professional these days. You have always been so good at showing what you are doing but I think you have gone up another notch!. I love these Japanese patterns you have done.. I loved the sailor dress and this skirt is exquisite. Thankyou for making my Sunday morning coffee time so enjoyable!
Ooh I’ll have to check them out! Thanks!!
I learned that Google lens can translate really well so I'm gonna try to make one.
Beautiful skirt, it looked fairly straight forward to put together, once you got past the chaos of tracing out the pattern 😂
I really love this skirt (& I normally don’t wear skirts). I wonder if you’d consider making a similar pattern available with those same pleats in the front and elastic in the back with gathers (I agree the back pleats are a bit redundant)? But in English & with different sizes? If that’s possible!
You did it justice, it looks gorgeous and the colour is Devine. Thanks for including us 😀
Fabulous 🎉.
How much fabric did you use? Japanese books often rely on 1.1 wide, but Spotligh offers usually 1.35….
If I wouldn’t have to go to work, I would start sewing right now 😆
Your video is very inspiring ❤
It looks beautiful! What about the size? Do you think it will still fit a bigger body? Great videos, thank you for sharing!
前 (mae, not 'may', more like mah-eh) means front and 後ろ (ushiro, u-shi-raw in a Gordon Ramsay kind of pronunciation lol) means back. ^^ I'm terrible at kanji, but those 2 are good to know when sewing from Japanese patterns. :D
❤your 💅- do you do them yourself or salon?
I also love your drive to tackle these difficult challenges!!! It turned out great as always.
When you get a chance you should study Japanese alphabet since you love working with Japanese patterns. I am doing the same.
I think the back pleats do add a little something!
You are intrepid! Looking at those pattern layouts freaks me out! I love that you think that’s part of the fun! But I have a question: when you lay out your fabric on your table, some of it is hanging off the edge. Why doesn’t the overhang drag the rest of it to the floor? Do you have a special surface that isn’t slippery? Because I literally can’t do that on my table! I usually work on the floor for larger projects.